Printers' presence inspiring

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Casey Printers will dress today when the Hamilton Tiger Cats visit the Argos at the Rogers Centre.

He will not play.

"There is a better chance of me coming in and playing quarterback," Tiger-Cats coach Charlie Taaffe said yesterday.

Taaffe said the only way Printers would play would be if the two other quarterbacks dressing for the game, Timmy Chang and Richie Williams, both came down with injuries.

That understood, the Ticats team that comes to Toronto today significantly is different from the one that laid down last Monday in a 32-14 Argos win.

Chang, who was pulled after a miserable first half on Monday, will be making his second consecutive start. The addition of Printers for three years at a cost of $1.6 million won't take away the 1-8 record Hamilton has compiled, but at least it gives the franchise a lift.

Standout middle linebacker Zeke Moreno, one of the few positives for the Tabbies until Printers arrived, said that was evident even during yesterday morning's walk-through as the club went through its final preparations for today's tilt with Toronto.

"There was a lot of energy out there today for a walk-through," Moreno said.

"But just the morale in the room, the way guys are talking, it's a little more upbeat than how things typically have been. I thought there were a lot of heads lifted (with his signing)."

Moreno said he noticed Printers talking with as many members of the Ticats offence as he could yesterday.

"This offence needs another leader to get things going," Moreno said. "Maybe he can be that guy."

Moreno said the signing sends a dual message to the players in the room.

"If you perform well and do well, then this organization will take care of you, but also work hard, produce or you're out of here," Moreno said. "Either way it pushes you to become a better athlete."

The Ticats managed to avoid a quarterback controversy when they traded incumbent quarterback Jason Maas to the Montreal Alouettes for fullback Jeff Piercy.

Argos coach Mike Clemons wasn't buying into the notion that Printers would be nothing more than a spectator this afternoon.

"Absolutely," Clemons said when asked if the thought Printers would play.

"At the very least that should be the way we are thinking going in."

For the second game in a row, the matchup will lose some of its lustre with Ticats running back Jesse Lumsden still out with an injured shoulder. Second-year Ticat Anthony Davis makes his second consecutive start at running back in Lumsden's place.

The Argos added receiver Marc Boerigter, who will see spot duty as he learns the Argos offence.

"As the year goes on we expect he will have a full complement of responsibilities as it relates to the entire offence," Clemons said.

Toronto again will be without Arland Bruce, who continues to be troubled by an inflamed shoulder.